The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-11-23

please Alice, you know-but for four
evenings now he has paid her marked at
tention. He comes over to us as soon as
he can make an excuse, and then he stays
until some one else actually crowds him
away. He hardly looks at me. ldeclare,
1 think l might have an adventure.
You've got your young man with the
books-or at least you have the books.
Alice is provided with an admirlng
swain, while I-have only Kate Dilllng-
worth-a young person | am very tired
Of"
"You are too young to he thinking OF
such mattcrs,1 remarked Meg, very un-
sympathctically; ''but say, Kate, if tell
you so nothing you will promise not to
tell Alicc?'
"On my honor as a gentleman" af-
firmed Kate.
"Wc!l,' said Meg confdcntially, IL
saw the book agent last week" "
"Where:" cried Kate. eagerly.
"W'here do you think: Over across
the street, walking past our deserted
flat. 1t was Sabbath afternoon. He
stared in the windows until he saw the
agents sign on the door, walked en-
past, and finally turned and came down
the street again. Here l was watching
him through the curtains, and all the
time his books on our hall shelf"
"What do you suppose he thinks?"
quericd Kate. ''He must have said
good-by to those law books long ago"
II wish the Winslows would come
back, so we could send them over" said
Meg. 81 should feel terribly confused
if should meet him anywhere. Just
Ikea thief"
"Well, he ought to have come for
them whsn he said he would" declared
Kate, stoutly. ct serves him right"
After pause, Meg asked:
"What about Alicc's admirer, Mr..
BARLEY! Is he good-lookingl"
VERY" answered Kate, unhesitating-
ly; ''but you will soon see for yourself.
The last time he saw Alice he asked
leave to call, and Alice said he might
come"
That same evening, Meg. who had
gone over to the corner drug store for
some postage stamps, came home again,
let herself in with the latch-key, and
finging of her hat, entered the parlor
where she had left her mother and Kate.
The room was now solely occupied by
the owner of the three law books. Meg
flushed crimson as she saw him, but she
laughed in spite of herself as she said:
'1Well, so you have found us out. We
didn't think you would discover us so
soon."
"You didn't know how much trouble
was willing to take to find you, he an
swered, and at that moment was aware
that Alice was in the room.
She looked inquiringly at Meg, and
said somewhat stillly to the visitor:
"Good evening, Mr.. Bartlcy.' Meg
stared, and Alice added; /" I see it is
unnecessary to introduce my sister,
"But it isn't unnecessary" cried Meg.
"I never saw him but once in my life,
and that was the day he left the books. |
suppose he had come for them to n ight. "
"The books!" echoed Alice. "What
books?"
"Why, the law-books he left with lis
six weeks ago, that belonged to the Win
slows. Don't you remember2"
With Alice's understanding Of the
question came the quick suspicion that
she had been used to bring about an &C
ouaintance with her sister, whom Mr..
BARLEY had seen the day he left the
books.
"And I didn't even know that he was
Mr.. BARLEY until you spoke his name
Just now," added Meg.
II dare say that Mr. BARLEY knew that
he had left his books with my sister," re-
marked Alice, aaa that gentleman did
not contradict her.
Alice went to her room that night feel
inc a little sore. Not that it amounted
to much, but no one likes to be used as q
tool. 1t had all been very pleasant, too,
and she admitted to herself what an
element he had been in the brightness of
the literary evenings. Of course, from
the first it had been Meg, and she didn't
blame Mr.. BARLEY. Any man with eyes
in his head could see that Meg was SUI
passingly lovely.
From that time there were certain
changes noticeable in the Dillingworth
household. Meg wore her gray dress
oftener of evenings, and certain alert
ness pervaded the family group when:
ever the door bell rang after the hour OF
Sr.M. When Mr.. Barley called, as he
often did, he usually made himself
agreeable to the entire family, and if he
talked the most with Alice, he looked
the most at Meg-Meg, who grew more
radiant with each day. Sometimes Mr..
BARLEY brought with him Mr.. Spencer,
friend and an artist, who likewise
talked with Alice and looked at Meg.
One night, as the family were going
down to the Academy Exhibition to sec
Mr.. Spencers picture, Alice was seized
with hea lache, together with desire
for soltude-so unattainable with a
large family in small f1at-and decided
to remain at home.
After they were all gone, she made
herself comfortable in huge armchair
drawn up before the CRATE where an open
fire danced merrily over its own grave,
and threw CHEEKY CLEANS of polish on the
fender and furniture.
airing at the door bell gave her an un-
pleasant start from a fertile revcrie, and
the appearance Of Mr.. BARLEY did not
tend to compose her.
81 hear that you are alone" he said.
rs he CAME into the fire-lighted room.
"Pray don't turn up the lamp. The
room is so pleasant as it is"
s'I fear youarc not sincere" " responded
Alice, "for have heard a married lady
of wide experience say that as rule
gentleman do not cniOY fireiights and